Gonna Try a Shoutcast Test

[Elspode]

And this will be the url that will be pointed to within Winamp. More on this later. This is experimental. I have no idea what I am doing.

[Elspode]

Bonehead update #1...the server is a no-brainer. There's a few config script things I need to tweak, but when I run the server, and send it a source, it appears as a findable search item on Shoutcast's "Listen" page. When you click on the listing, then whatever streaming audio client you have as default on your machine will invoke, and connect to what I am calling at present the "Cellar Radio Testing" stream.

My problem right now is that the client I'm using to feed audio to the stream doesn't seem to actually be delivering any *sound* to the stream. It connects, there's data being exchanged, but no frigging *sound* is coming out at the other end.

As Marvin would say, "back to the old drawing board".

Is anyone going to be interested in this at all if I can get it working? We could take turns doing a weekend night show. Once I figure it out, it should be a relatively simple matter for anyone who wants to do it to either run the server, or just dejay with the server running somewhere else. If we keep the number of users limited, there won't be any danger of strangling my 2.5 meg cable bandwidth, even at pretty good bitrates in stereo.

Comments? Help? Anyone ever done this? We would want the ability to run live, and not just stream a bunch of mp3s, so the input client is pretty crucial, here.

BTW, this isn't going to be up and running full time or anything. I'm just trying to get it worked out to see if I can do it, and then see if anyone gives a damn.

[Radar]

Actually I'll be interested in how to set it up myself, so if you get it working, let me know what glitches you ran into and how you got past them.

[Elspode]

Okay. So, it works, and in the end, it is dirt simple. I'd like to take a shot at a Shoutcast Broadcast in a week or so, and see how it works out. In the meantime, I plan on enjoying Syc's efforts.

I'll post more later for those interested. I'm going to need to set up some hardware to support this, but it ought to work pretty cool. It is at least a very simple matter, using all the stuff that Nullsoft provides you with, to run streaming audio (basically, any content that you can run through Winamp v2.0 normally, meaning CDs, wavs and mp3's). Adding voiceover is a bit more trouble, but damn little, actually, if you have a mic plugged into your mic input.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled insanity.

[Elspode]

Okay, well, I actually have it up and working. I now understand the (actually very simple) process. I'd like to have some willing folks test it, perhaps tomorrow night (Sunday night, July 4th)?

If I could get 10 people to play the stream, I'd be able to see what it does to my CPU/memory loading and my bandwidth, and thus be able to judge future practicality. However, I'm not going to leave the stream running constantly, so it has to occur at a prearranged time. If you are reading now, you can go to www.shoutcast.com, click on "listen", and do a search for "Cellar Testing"...click on the "Tune In" button, and you should hear John Entwistle.

[wolf]

I seem to be hearing John Entwhistle!

[Elspode]

Groovy! So you're the 1 out of 32 possible that is listening, then...Syc should be checking it out shortly.

Gods, I love holiday weekends! Time for technological experiments1!

[wolf]

Stan Freberg? COOLNESS!! Still relevant, even today.

[Elspode]

I shouldn't be allowed to have this much fun. Really.

[Beestie]

I'm hearing Summertime at 4:12am. Is that you Els?

You would have to pick that song wouldn't you.

[Elspode]

Yup...experiment is working! Yee ha!

[Beestie]

I'm hearing Phil Collins now. Blech. I remember back in 87 or so, he did a concert at the Omni in Atlanta. I worked at CNN Center (for Turner) and went to the gym at lunch everyday. The day of his concert, I went to the gym at lunch as usual and standing next to me in the sign-in line was Phil Collins and his yetti-like bodyguard. I signed in and handed him the sign-in pen - we didn't exchange pleasantries and that was that.

He's short.

[wolf]

All righty ... I had the opportunity to participate as as guinea pig, and what I can say with authority is SQUEAK!!

Sounds quality is great, and I must compliment our host on his choices for this evening ...

I'm looking forward to additional testing!

[Elspode]

Anyone willing to host a permanent Shoutcast server, and perhaps assist with setting it up so that we can have rotating DJ's in to-be-determined slots?

Sycamore's original idea is so excellent, that I have a lot of enthusiasm for seeing if we can make this become the next CMEP, only without the CD burning, late mailings and postage costs.

Complete docs come with the Shoutcast server download, and it seems straightforward enough, at least, it does to someone like me who really has no idea what he is doing. According to what I've read, a central server can be established, access to it can be restricted to the person doing the DJ'ing, as can access to potential listeners, thus helping to control bandwidth use.

Just streaming the music is dirt simple with Winamp. An additional layer of complexity can be added if you want to throw in a mic, or route mixer output into the soundcard. This has much potential.

[Elspode]

Originally posted by Beestie
I'm hearing Phil Collins now.

Genesis, actually, but yeah, that's Phil singing. I've got his autograph on a "Mama" tour program, along with the rest of the band. One of my most cherished doodads.